04-12-2022, 02:24 AM
An Episode from The Great Spring Offensive
Normally the phones rang incessantly,
those serving at headquarters
did their work quietly, walking softly
and bringing cigarettes sent from the rear
to the staff cadres answering the telephones.
It was early spring.
The willow forests of Tan Nguyen
had not yet put out their leaves
and the noon heat was all the more sultry.
The sounds of all kinds of insects
and the cry of peacocks blended
with the cannon fire echoing in the distance.
There was the drone of reconnaissance planes
hanging overhead, searching for targets.
All telephone lines were suddenly broken off.
There came the trumpeting of a herd of elephants,
gradually growing louder.
The headquarters guard was sent out
but ordered not to open fire
and to avoid making them angry.
Everyone was ordered into the reinforced bunker.
There’s nothing wrong with running from elephants.
Normally the phones rang incessantly,
those serving at headquarters
did their work quietly, walking softly
and bringing cigarettes sent from the rear
to the staff cadres answering the telephones.
It was early spring.
The willow forests of Tan Nguyen
had not yet put out their leaves
and the noon heat was all the more sultry.
The sounds of all kinds of insects
and the cry of peacocks blended
with the cannon fire echoing in the distance.
There was the drone of reconnaissance planes
hanging overhead, searching for targets.
All telephone lines were suddenly broken off.
There came the trumpeting of a herd of elephants,
gradually growing louder.
The headquarters guard was sent out
but ordered not to open fire
and to avoid making them angry.
Everyone was ordered into the reinforced bunker.
There’s nothing wrong with running from elephants.